Rembert Wurlitzer Co. was a distinguished firm in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

that specialized in fine musical instruments and bows. Founded in Europe in 1856, the

Wurlitzer The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to as simply Wurlitzer, is an American company started in Cincinnati in 1853 by German immigrant (Franz) Rudolph Wurlitzer. The company initially imported stringed, woodwind and brass instruments ...

Co. was a world-famous musical instrument company known for its many ateliers in the United States. Rembert Rudolph Wurlitzer (1904–1963), violin expert and a grandson of the founder of Chicago's

Co. (pianos, organs, jukeboxes), bowed out of the family firm in 1949 to found Manhattan's Rembert Wurlitzer Co., which has bought, sold, authenticated and or restored more than half the world's 600 known Stradivariuses, and supplied instruments to

Fritz Kreisler Friedrich "Fritz" Kreisler (February 2, 1875 – January 29, 1962) was an Austrian-born American violinist and composer. One of the most noted violin masters of his day, and regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time, he was known ...

David Oistrakh David Fyodorovich Oistrakh (; – 24 October 1974), was a Soviet classical violinist, violist and conductor. Oistrakh collaborated with major orchestras and musicians from many parts of the world and was the dedicatee of numerous violin ...

and

Isaac Stern Isaac Stern (July 21, 1920 – September 22, 2001) was an American violinist. Born in Poland, Stern came to the US when he was 14 months old. Stern performed both nationally and internationally, notably touring the Soviet Union and China, and ...

among others. "Wurlitzer had built up a first-class workshop inviting the great Simone Fernando Sacconi and his pupil Dario D'Attilli, where many of the best American repairers were trained in. In his last years Sacconi spent much time teaching in Cremona, Italy, and published ''I segreti di Stradivari'' (Cremona, 1972), setting out in detail Stradivari’s working methods." They amassed a very important collection of the finest instruments (of the violin family) which included Antonio Stradivarius, Giuseppe Guarneri,

Domenico Montagnana Domenico Montagnana (24 June 1686 – 6 March 1750) was an Italian master luthier based in Venice, Italy. He is regarded as one of the finest violin and cello makers of his time. His pieces, particularly his cellos, are sought after by orchestras ...

, Sanctus Serafin, Lorenzo Storioni, Francesco Ruggeri, Joannes Baptista Guadagnini,

Nicolas Lupot 'Nicolas Lupot'' (4 December 1758 – 14 August 1824) was one of the most illustrious French luthiers (violin makers) of his time. Lupot was born in Stuttgart. He was apprenticed to his father and worked in Orléans until 1794. Soon after, he ...

, J. B. Vuillaume to name a few, as well as an important fine bow collection including bows by

François Tourte François Xavier Tourte (1747 – 25 April 1835) was a French bow maker who made a number of significant contributions to the development of the bow of stringed instruments, and is considered to be the most important figure in the development of ...

Dominique Peccatte Dominique Peccatte (15 July 1810 – 13 January 1874) was a French luthier and above all a renowned bow maker. He was apprenticed in Mirecourt and later worked with Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume. He is notable for adapting the "hatchet-shaped" ty ...

, Nicolaus Kittel,

Jean Pierre Marie Persois Jean Pierre Marie Persoit ersois'' - (1782/83? in Mirecourt – after 1854) was a great and intriguing French bowmaker or '' Archetier''. One of the first bowmakers to be hired by the young Jean Baptiste Vuillaume. Persoit seems to have wo ...

and many others. Most importantly was the acquisition of the Henry Hottinger Collection in 1967. "He (Henry Hottinger) had an early interest in the violin, and bought his first

Stradivari Antonio Stradivari (, also , ; – 18 December 1737) was an Italian luthier and a craftsman of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas and harps. The Latinized form of his surname, '' Stradivarius'', as well as the collo ...

in 1935. His ambition after the war was to acquire one outstanding example of each of the old Cremonese masters, and in the case of Stradivari and

Guarneri The Guarneri (, , ), often referred to in the Latinized form Guarnerius, is the family name of a group of distinguished luthiers from Cremona in Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries, whose standing is considered comparable to those of the Amati an ...

‘del Gesù’, one example from each significant period of their production. An illustrated catalogue (R. Wurlitzer: The Henry Hottinger Collection, 1967) was published following the collection's sale to Rembert Wurlitzer Co. (the most highly regarded string instrument dealership of its day). The instruments (about 30 violins in all) were subsequently dispersed all over the world." This shop became a leading international centre for rare string instruments and was patronized by many of the preeminent names in the concert world. From the turn of the century, the shop also imported many fine instruments made by the best contemporary makers of Europe (at the time) including Albert Nürnberger, whom they represented as "the greatest modern bow maker" (c. 1912).

Quotes

*"If you are not already aware of it, having papers from the Wurlitzer Company (Rembert Wurlitzer) is as close to the "gold standard" as you can get! So many of today's expert were trained in their workshops and their legacy of quality and integrity is one that sets the benchmark for American Violin shops today. It would not be an exaggeration to assert that Rembert Wurlitzer and his company started the "Golden Age of American Violinmaking" that still continues to this day." *"In 1951 Sacconi went with his pupil D’Attili to work for Rembert Wurlitzer. A first-class workshop was built up and many of the best American repairers were trained in it. In his last years Sacconi spent much time teaching in Cremona, Italy, and published I segreti di Stradivari (Cremona, 1972), setting out in detail Stradivari’s working methods." *"To this day (presently 2009), Rembert Wurlitzer certification is still highly regarded and respected. That says a great deal about his expertise and reputation."Filimonov Fine Violins

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Further reading